Outpost Gold & Gem Panning

Strike it Rich in Helen, Georgia! The Outpost Gold & Gem is a family attraction that is fun for all ages. Try your luck with our Georgia Gold Rush Paydirt Buckets filled with either Concentrated Gold or take a chance on our Gemstone Buckets with rare earth gems, such as rubies, sapphires, emeralds, amethyst, topaz, and more! All of our panning tables are covered and we are open rain or shine. Get hands on lessons from our trained and helpful staff. They are always nearby to help you identify your finds and evaluate them. After you are finished, don't forget to stop by our gift shop, Southwestern Outpost!

  • NEW 2026!!!!

    Starting in 2025, we are excited to offer our own tumbled stones made right here at Outpost Gold & Gem. Guests can trade the rough stones they find for our pre-tumbled stones, so everyone goes home with a ready-to-display treasure. We will also be offering on-the-spot wire wrapping of any stone you find, as long as staff is available, so you can turn your favorite find into a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry before you leave.

EVERYONE TAKES HOME A TREASURE!

  • Experience Gold Fever with our authentic Georgia Gold Rush Paydirt. Mined locally from Dukes Creek, site of the first major Gold Rush in America!

    PAN FER GOLD 

  • Your mining adventure starts here! With colorful gems in every load, our Outpost Gem rough buckets offer lots of fun for miners of all ages!

    MINE FEW GEMS 

  • Un-earth prehistoric fossil specimens direct from the dig site! Get your own pieces of prehistoric treasure with our Fossil Buckets.

    MINE FER FOSSILS 

  • Discover one of the wonders of the world. There's no way to tell what's inside the geode until you break it apart - but that's the most exciting part!

    BREAK A GEODE 

  • Fine Jewelry Online Store

    Shop our wide selection of fine jewelry, including bridal, rings, pendants, earrings, diamonds, gems stones, mounts, and even design your own pieces. Just pick your items and submit a quote and one of our sales associates will contact you.

    SHOP NOW 

  • Visit our Gift Shop:

    Visit our Gift Shop:

    After you are finished panning for gold and gems, don't forget to stop by our gift shop, the Southwestern Outpost, which features the area's largest and most complete offerings of Native American art, Southwestern Décor, Jewelry, Rare Earth Gems, and Prehistoric fossils.

    Click Here To Learn More 

  • Group Rates & Parties

    Perfect for school groups, church groups, family reunions, and summer trips, our packages let you experience North Georgia’s gold mining history. Mine for real gemstones and gold you keep, with all equipment provided. We welcome large groups, offer free parking with no admission fees, and run gold panning, gem mining, gem cutting, and more year‑round, rain or shine.

Shop our Georgia Gold Rush Paydirt

View all

Shop our Gem Rough paydirt

View all

Our Family History:

With over 50 years in the mining industry, the folks at the Outpost Gold and Gem know a thing or two about panning for treasure. From humbled beginnings with a local sand and gravel pit to the family adventure you can experience today, the Jackson family has a long history with gold and gems. The North Georgia Mountains and scenic Alpine Helen Georgia provide a picturesque backdrop to the fun and excitement that awaits you, but it also brings a lot of history to our product, with the gold coming from Dukes Creek, the site of the first major Gold Rush in American history!

Our Family History

Hours of Operation:

Sunday-Thursday 10:00-5:00 Friday, Saturday 10:00-6:00

Hours are subject to change. During peak season (June through October) we may stay open later than times posted above. 

We are closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Please call 706-878-5065 anytime to verify our daily hours.

We look forward to having you at the Outpost Gold and Gem Mining Company!

Map